The Bioscope (Oct-Dec 1931)

November 18, 1931 THE BIOSCOPE 29 filled several times over. Local members are appealing to philanthropists in their effort to raise £50 towards the endowment of a cot in the children’s ward of the Leeds Infirmary. The proprietors of the Palace have topped the subscription list with a donation of ten guineas. Elsecar Talks Extensive alterations and redecorations have recently been completed at the Elsecar Palace, and up-to-date sound equipment has displaced the old silent apparatus. Notts and Derby (Representative: W. Bernard Stevenson, "Hillside School," 7, Noel Street, Nottingham, and "The Nottingham Journal," Parliament Street, Nottingham. Telephone: Nottingham 32 1 1> C.E.A. Branch Lunch Notts and Derbyshire Branch of the C.E.A. were the guests at luncheon of Councillor Thomas Wright, their President. The function was at the County Hotel, Theatre Square, Nottingham, and Mr. Wright received the congratulations of his fellow members on his recent election to the Nottingham City Council. Suitable reference was also made to the honour conferred on Councillor Joseph Pollard, the branch’s delegate to the General Council, who is this year’s Mayor of Mansfield, Notts. Workers' Society There has just been a meeting of the recently formed Nottingham Workers’ Film Society, at which W. H. Gelder lectured on “ The Cinema in Russia.” So far this society does not appear to have got as far as an actual cinema. Leicester and District Silver Street Hall Sold The old cinema in Silver Street, which has been empty several months, has now been let on a lease. It is understood that premises are not required for their former purpose. A sale took place on Monday of certain effects, including more than 600 tip-up iron framed seats, projectors and so forth. Exhibitors as Beauty Spotters In connection with a beauty competition to select the prettiest girls engaged in local factories, the promoters evidently considered the cinema profession as authorities in the matter of judging beauty, for the following exhibitors have been chosen : R. M. Wright (High Street Pictures), P. Gorton (Picture House), W. Ainge (City), Len Stanwick (Palace), Svd. Parsons (Prince’s), Trevor Jones (Trocadero), F. West (Evington), W. Marshbanks (Hippodrome). Two famous cinema stars will also assist. Isle of Man Palace Company’s Dividend Down A net profit of £10,522 on the year’s working is reported by the Palace and Derby Castle Company, an Isle of Man concern owning several cinemas and other amusement resorts in the island. With the amount brought forward, there is £15,776 disposable. The directors recommend a dividend of 5 per cent, on the Preference shares, and 6 per cent, on the Ordinary shares. Last year’s Ordinary dividend was 7^ per cent., but the directors in their report observe that the continued trade depression has again affected the visiting season. West of England Frome Hall's New Owners The Memorial Hall Cinema, Frome, has been taken over by Oliver J. Pugsley, of Bristol, acting on behalf of a company now in formation, styled the Somerset Theatres, Ltd. The hall will be reseated and redecorated, while the B.T.-H. apparatus and Kalee projectors will be installed. Charlie at Plymouth Charlie Chaplin, who has been staying in Plymouth over the week-end with Lord and Lady Astor, on Sunday attended a fisher folks’ thanksgiving service on the Plymouth Barbican, near the spot where the Pilgrim Fathers sailed for America in the Mayflower in 1620. At the service Chaplin addressed the gathering through a large megaphone, in which he said his heart was with the poorer people and not with the poor millionaires. AT THE C.E.A. MEETINGS Continued, from page 27 tiou. Why should the combines be attacked when other members had not carried out the arrangements at all ? C. Perry : Not to pass on the tax to the extent to which we are entitled to is bringing the trade down to a low level. G. Appleton made an appeal to the exhibitors concerned to readjust their prices, because it affected so severely the opposition at opposition halls. A Bitter Disappointment After further information had been communicated to the Branch, the Chairman confessed himself to be bitterly disappointed by the nature of the complaints. He recalled that at the meetings held in London two great combines had agreed to pass on the whole of the increase in the tax. That, was also the decision of the members of the North Western Branch, and now, before the increase had been operative for more than a few days, these complaints were being received. A very bad impression was being created in the minds of the people, who had been told that exhibitors would not be able to carry on their business unless this increased tax was passed on. What would they think of the situation now ? C. Russ said there was one theatre in Liverpool which had adopted the “ catch as catch can ” attitude of charging 8 Id. instead of 9d. for the old 8d. seat. No resolution was moved. “ A ” Films Situation At the beginning of the meeting some private information was communicated to members concerning the Liverpool Justices’ rules governing the exhibition of “ A ” films to audiences which include children. A vote of thanks was accorded the Special Committee, of which B. Allman is chairman. Liverpool Sub-Committee Not Wanted There was considerable discussion on the following notice of motion by Alderman E. Haigh, J.P. : — “ That a Sub-Committee be formed of the members of the North Western Branch to deal with emergency measures that may crop up from time to time dealing with purely local matters pertaining to Liverpool cinemas.” In moving it, Alderman Haigh said that the Committee which was now dealing with the “A” films situation might continue to function and deal with any matters of emergency that arose from time to time. Sometimes important matters arose which, in these da vs. when theatres were losing money, demanded prompt attention. He thought the value of an Emergency Committee, to deal with matters for the Liverpool exhibitors, would be obvious. Special Committees Favoured The Chairman said the notice of motion had been discussed by the Committee, which felt that subcommittees should be appointed for special objects, instead of having one special committee to deal with all questions. For that reason they could not support Alderman Haigh’s proposal. Even if it were adopted, it could not be expected that the men serving on that committee would be those best able to deal with every problem. The best results were likely to be obtained from a sub-committee of picked men, the best men able to perform the particular duty which required to be discharged. C. Perry, who seconded the resolution, said he took his hat off to the Sub-Committee dealing with the “ A ” films business. The value of its work proved the desirability of there being a permanent emergency committee. Danger of Factions R. Hamilton Godfrey said it would be a pity to create a permanent sub-committee to deal with purely Liverpool affairs. It would be creating factions in the Branch and thus make solidarity, which was essential to success, most difficult to achieve. Both Alderman Haigh and Mr. Perry had paid tribute to the splendid work which had been done by the SubCommittee, of which Mr. Allman was chairman, but that Committee was created for a special purpose, and it had succeeded. The Committee could not be expected to accomplish the same success on any business that might arise. A Liverpool Section had existed in the past, but. in the words of Mr. Locke, “ it died from inactivity.” If local sections were created throughout the area covered by the North Western Branch, it might result in a feeling of dissatisfaction and the weakening of the influence of the Branch as a strong part, of the exhibitors’ organisation. As they already had an Executive Committee, there was no need for setting up the machinery asked for by Alderman Haigh. On being put to the vote, Alderman Haigh 's resolution was heavily defeated. Unfair Discrimination Attention was drawn to the fact that, a picture theatre in Birkenhead and another in Wallasey made application to the local authorities for permission to give a Sunday performance in aid of the Cinema Trade Benevolent Fund. Both were turned down, yet sanction was given for them to give a Sunday show in aid of a fund promoted by a Liverpool newspaper for purchasing and distributing Christmas parcels. Members thought that, unfair discrimination had been made. The Secretary was directed to point, this out to the Birkenhead magistrates and the Wallasey Watch Committee. Pittaluga Rumour Scotched P. Alliata, of Mitre House, 177, Regent Street, the British representative of Pittaluga, referring to an announcement in a certain trade journal (not The Bioscope), says : — " I have just received the following telegram from the managing director of the Pittaluga-Cines Co. in Rome : — j " I give you authority to deny news. Absolutely false. Published first Lichtbildbuehne, then English Press. Confirm that no change is taking place in the relations between our company and Banca Commerciale Italiana. Situation Italian market quite satisfying. We are proceeding regularly in the realisation of our complete programme.— Signed Pedrazzini.” Heavy Demands on . Benevolent Fund At the November meeting of the Benevolent Fund Council the Council authorised assistance in many applications from those who are experiencing hard times. The current year shows to date that a larger sum has been expended in assistance than for the same period of any previous year. The Council’s Christmas effort to help the Fund has already been brought to the notice of exhibitors and of exhibiting managers, and R. C. O. Viveash is now enlisting the assistance of the other branches of the trade in this particular scheme. All interested in the Trade Charitable Organization can help in this Christmas scheme. ’Phone Gerrard 4104, or call or write, 52, Shaftesbury Avenue, W.l. M-G-M Writers and Players M.-G.-M. has signed Nils Asther to a new contract. Asther has recently appeared in vaudeville and his next screen role has not yet been announced. Frederick Lonsdale, author of " The Last of Mrs. Cheyney,” " The High Road,” and many other plays, is now completing an original script for Robert Montgomery at the MetroGoldwyn-Mayer studios. Clark Gable, whose most recent screen roles were in " A Free Soul ” and " Sporting Blood,” has been given the male lead opposite Joan Crawford in “ The Mirage.” “ No Dubbing ” It looks as though a " no dubbing ” sign will eventually mark the entrances to certain Parisian halls in the future. The French public, fiercely critical, fight shy of “ dubbed” films. So much so that, even for “ L’Opera de Quat’ Sous,” which is now showing four times a day (twice in French and twice in German), Press notices appear stating that “ these two versions are original ones and not post-synchronised.” Winads on G.B. Circuit Every Gaumont-British theatre throughout the United Kingdom commenced the Winads Sound Trailer Service last week. This new sound trailer is something entirely different to that which is usually conceived to be a “ talkie ” trailer, and Winads have received complimentary letters upon this new production from many exhibitors.